Best Credit Cards For Car Repairs Of 2025 – Forbes Advisor

Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card: Best Car Repair Credit Card with High Limits

Rewards: Earn 5 points per dollar on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3 points per dollar on dining, select streaming services, and online grocery purchases (excluding Walmart, Target and wholesale clubs), 2 points per dollar on all other travel purchases and 1 point per dollar on other purchases.
Welcome offer: Earn 100,000 bonus points after spending $5,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.
Annual fee: $95

The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card extends a minimum credit limit of $5,000, which should be adequate for nearly any car repair needs. It also offers several benefits that could be helpful when covering the cost of service: If you’re approved, you’ll receive instant access to your card number so you can add it to a mobile wallet like Apple Pay for use anywhere digital payments are accepted. There’s no introductory APR, but cardholders can opt-in to Chase Pay Over Time to break up larger purchases into predictable monthly payments. There’s also complimentary primary coverage on rental cars when you pay with the card, which can be helpful if you need a replacement vehicle while your car is in the shop.

Rewards are earned as Chase Ultimate Rewards® points—known well for their value in travel redemptions—but can be redeemed as cash back instead if you prefer. You can also treat the oversized welcome bonus like a major rebate off the cost of your car repair if you time your application and spend strategically. However, the rewards you earn on everyday spending lean toward travel and dining rather than repair work, which could be a disadvantage.

Discover it® Student Cash Back: Best Student Credit Card for Car Repairs

Rewards: Earn 5% cash back on everyday purchases at different places each quarter like grocery stores, restaurants, gas stations and more, up to the quarterly maximum once activated. Plus, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases.
Welcome offer: Unlimited Cashback Match™ – Discover will match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year. There’s no minimum spending or maximum rewards.
Annual fee: $0

If you’re a student who needs to finance a car repair, the Discover it® Student Cash Back can help you do that while building your credit. As a student card, it’s designed for people still in school, even those who don’t have a credit score. A short, introductory APR offer builds in some breathing room, though we’d caution you to be careful. It’s easy to fall into the trap of paying over time before you’ve solidified a financial routine, and eventually, this could be costly. You’ll get a 0% intro APR on purchases for 6 months, then the standard variable purchase APR of 17.24% to 26.24% applies.

Even after you’ve covered the car repair cost, this card’s cash-back rates and no annual fee help it stand out. Rotating quarterly bonuses add up fast, as does a welcome bonus that matches the cash back you earn in your first year with the card.

Citi Simplicity® Card*: Best Balance Transfer Credit Card for Car Repairs

Rewards: This card does not earn rewards.
Welcome offer: This card does not offer a welcome bonus.
Annual fee: $0

If you’ve racked up credit card debt from past car repairs, the Citi Simplicity® Card* is among the best for balance transfers. The card offers one of the longest intro APRs for balance transfers with lower balance transfer fees than cards with similar offers. New cardholders of the Citi Simplicity get a 0% intro APR for 21 months on balance transfers from date of first transfer and 0% intro APR for 12 months on purchases from date of account opening. After that, the variable APR will be 18.24% to 28.99%. There is an intro balance transfer fee of $5 or 3% of the amount of the transfer, whichever is greater, for transfers made within 4 months of opening the account. After that, a balance transfer fee of either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater, applies.

Unfortunately, the Citi Simplicity has almost no benefits outside of its introductory APR. Since there are no rewards, it’s best considered a tool to pay down existing card balances rather than a long-term credit card solution.

Citi Double Cash® Card: Best Credit Card for Car Repairs for Fair Credit

Rewards: Earn 2% cash back on all purchases—1% when purchases are made and another 1% when they’re paid off, and earn 5% total cash back on hotel, car rentals and attractions booked on the Citi Travel℠ portal through 12/31/25.
Welcome offer: Earn $200 cash back after spending $1,500 on purchases in the first 6 months of account opening, fulfilled as 20,000 ThankYou® Points.
Annual fee: $0

Few cards can boast that they earn rewards twice with no annual fee, but that’s what you get with the Citi Double Cash® Card. You’ll earn half your cash back up front when you make the purchase and the other half as you pay, as long as you pay at least the minimum due on time. It’s also available for those with fair credit or above, making it an excellent choice for those with less-than-perfect credit scores.

The card’s balance transfer offer can be helpful if you know what you’re getting into, but it could backfire if you don’t read the fine print. The Double Cash comes with a 0% intro APR on balance transfers for 18 months. After that, the standard variable APR will be 18.24% to 28.24%, based on creditworthiness. An intro balance transfer fee of either $5 or 3%, whichever is greater, applies to transfers completed within the first 4 months of account opening. After that, the fee will be 5% of each transfer (minimum $5). Since new purchases don’t qualify for the intro APR offer, if you opt for a balance transfer, all new purchases will incur interest immediately unless you pay your entire balance (including balance transfers) by the due date each month.

Chase Freedom Unlimited®: Best Car Repair Credit Card with Roadside Assistance

Rewards: Earn 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3% cash back on eligible dining and drugstores and 1.5% on all other purchases.
Welcome offer: Earn $250 cash back after spending $500 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
Annual fee: $0

The Chase Freedom Unlimited® is the type of card that never goes out of style. Even if you apply for it to pay for a one-time repair bill, you’ll be happy with it for years to come. As a new cardholder, you’ll be eligible for an extended intro APR offer and an easy-to-earn welcome bonus. But its cash-back earnings are here to stay, with above-average earnings on car repairs and a few spending categories that earn even more.

While the card’s roadside assistance benefit won’t help you until you’re approved, it’s a handy perk for future auto-related emergencies. Through Roadside Dispatch, you’re eligible for services like towing, standard winching and tire changing. Unfortunately, it’s not free, but the prenegotiated flat rates are reasonable—and calling their hotline can save you the effort of searching out local operators, too.

Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card: Best 2% Cash Rewards Credit Card for Car Repairs

Rewards: Earn 2% cash rewards on purchases.
Welcome offer: Earn a $200 cash rewards bonus after spending $500 in purchases in the first 3 months.
Annual fee: $0 (rates & fees)

We love 2% cash-back cards and the Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card over-delivers. Not only does it offer unlimited flat-rate rewards on all purchases with no annual fee, but it also comes with a welcome bonus for new cardholders. You won’t need to track multiple spending categories to maximize your credit cards’ rewards potential: Your car repair, future maintenance and any other purchases will earn the same 2%, making this fantastic for all your spending needs.

Like many cards on our list, the Wells Fargo Active Cash offers an above-average intro APR offer on purchases and balance transfers. New cardholders get a 0% intro APR for 12 months from account opening on purchases and qualifying balance transfers, then a 19.24%, 24.24%, or 29.24% variable APR applies. Balance transfers made within 120 days qualify for the intro rate and fee of 3% (min. $5) then a fee of up to 5% (min. $5) applies.

Wells Fargo Reflect® Card: Best Credit Card for Auto Repairs with Intro APR

Rewards: This card does not earn rewards.
Welcome offer: This card does not offer a welcome bonus.
Annual fee: $0 (rates & fees)

The Wells Fargo Reflect® Card is not flashy and doesn’t earn rewards. But it’s great at one thing—financing large purchases. The card offers one of the longest intro APR offers on new purchases.

After your introductory period, the Reflect shouldn’t be your preferred credit card, but if you’re staring down a major repair, this card can make it easier to handle. You’ll get a 0% intro APR for 21 months from account opening on purchases and qualifying balance transfers. A 17.24%, 23.74%, or 28.99% variable APR applies thereafter. Balance transfers made within 120 days qualify for the intro APR and a balance transfer fee of 5%, min $5 applies.

Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi*: Best Emergency Car Repair Credit Card for Instant Use

Rewards: Earn 5% cash back on gas at Costco and 4% cash back on eligible gas and EV charging purchases for the first combined $7,000 spent annually, 1% thereafter, 3% cash back on restaurants and eligible travel purchases, 2% cash back on purchases from Costco and Costco.com and 1% cash back on all other purchases. A Costco membership is required to apply.
Welcome offer: This card does not offer a welcome bonus.
Annual fee: $0

For Costco members, the Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi* may be the best option for car repairs. You’ll earn 2% rewards on all purchases made at Costco and Costco.com, whether you’re buying car parts or accessories to DIY. If you need work done professionally, you can qualify for discounts by having it done at locations within the Costco Auto Program.

Another reason to love this card is that you could be instantly approved. If so, you’ll be able to add your new card account to your digital membership card for immediate use at Costco. That’s a convenient way to pay for emergency tires, batteries or other parts.

Petal® 2 “Cash Back, No Fees” Visa® Credit Card: Best Emergency Car Repair Credit Card with No Credit Check

Rewards: Earn 1% cash back on eligible purchases right away, 1.25% cash back on eligible purchases after making 6 on-time monthly payments, and up to 1.5% cash back on eligible purchases after making 12 on-time monthly payments. Plus, earn 2% – 10% cash back at select merchants.
Welcome offer: This card does not offer a welcome bonus.
Annual fee: $0

Options are limited if you’re looking for a credit card with no credit check, but the Petal® 2 “Cash Back, No Fees” Visa® Credit Card could be the one you need if you’re anticipating car repairs. Instead of looking at a credit score, your creditworthiness is evaluated based on your current financial situation. You may need to link a bank account to prove it, but that’s a small tradeoff if you otherwise have limited or fair credit (starting at 580 in the FICO scoring model).

If approved, the card shines. There’s no annual fee and solid rewards on all purchases, including auto repairs. The Petal 2 also offers the possibility of credit increases after six months of on-time payments, so it could be worth applying before you need the card to set yourself up for success. While it might not be the overall best pick, it’s a top-notch choice for anyone whose credit is suffering.

Upgrade Triple Cash Rewards Visa: Best Car Repair Rewards Card

Rewards: Earn 3% unlimited cash back on home, auto and health categories and 1% unlimited cash back on everything else after you make payments on your purchases.
Welcome offer: Earn a $200 bonus after opening a Rewards Checking Plus account and making three debit card transactions within 60 days.
Annual fee: $0

First things first: The Upgrade Triple Cash Rewards Visa looks like a credit card, but it’s actually a line of credit. That means you must pay off your bill immediately to avoid interest payments. For many prospective customers, that should be an automatic disqualifier. However, paying with the card could be a good way to earn quick rewards for those who have the cash to cover the repair.

The rewards are higher than you’ll find on any other card, with 3% earnings on automotive transactions that may include service shops, tire stores, body shops, dealers (including service centers) and motor vehicle supplies and parts. The home and health earning categories also include many purchase types that rarely receive a bonus, making this an unusual but interesting addition to your wallet.